frelling_tralk: (Clark/Chloe/Pete by tragic_radiance)
frelling_tralk ([personal profile] frelling_tralk) wrote2010-08-30 12:57 pm
Entry tags:

(no subject)

Urgh I don't know if it's just me (as tv writers seem convinced we love them), but I HATE cliffhangers. What is the big deal with every season having to end on them, and now news about DW's new season being split in half with a cliffhanger to "keep viewers on the edge of their seats". Smallville's cliffhangers are another peeve of mine because every single season ends on a cliffhanger, and it really makes me miss Buffy ending each season properly and giving you a complete story in one season


I can still anticipate the new season just as much without plot points leaving the audience hanging for months on end.

[identity profile] llenka.livejournal.com 2010-08-30 12:52 pm (UTC)(link)
THIS. i hate cliffhangers.

[identity profile] frelling-tralk.livejournal.com 2010-08-30 01:47 pm (UTC)(link)
And it's like showrunners think that no one would be excited for the new season without them. I don't mind end of episode cliffhangers as much if they're being resolved the following week, like say one Doctor Who episode ended amazingly with the Doctor about to regenerate and bang "to be continued" comes up. Now that was an awesome moment that got everyone talking (even if it was resolved badly), but if that had been a season ending I would have hated it

[identity profile] firebunny.livejournal.com 2010-08-30 04:54 pm (UTC)(link)
I enjoy a good cliff hanger, but so few cliff hangers are actually good and season ending cliff hangers are so cliche now that it's refreshing when a series doesn't have one.

[identity profile] frelling-tralk.livejournal.com 2010-08-30 05:23 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah SV always forces a cliffhanger every year, just because it's ~expected~ and half of them aren't even necessary. The Covenat cliffhanger was the only one that really wowed me with the way they build it up (Lionel's head shaving and "thank you" will never not be epic). Well and Commmencement was fairly decent as the FOS was an actual upcoming plot point, but still most of them felt so thrown together with some last minute add-on throwing Clark into jeopardy
Edited 2010-08-30 17:26 (UTC)

[identity profile] lasultrix.livejournal.com 2010-08-30 05:13 pm (UTC)(link)
I couldn't agree more. It makes me irritated, not full of longing for the next season.

[identity profile] frelling-tralk.livejournal.com 2010-08-30 05:29 pm (UTC)(link)
Same! I don't mind the way Doctor Who does it as much as they basically wrap up the season, and then drop some kind of teaser for the Xmas special which is fine (and honestly none of those teases have ever left me on the edge of my seat LOL). But blegh at shows ending with some huge cliffhanger, and then leaving you waiting months for them to resolve it.

[identity profile] sum1-different.livejournal.com 2010-08-30 11:54 pm (UTC)(link)
The habit some shows have of ending seasons on cliffhangers is really annoying.

Remember Joss told us he wouldn't end Angel on a cliffhanger and then he did? That really pissed me off.

[identity profile] frelling-tralk.livejournal.com 2010-08-31 04:05 pm (UTC)(link)
Hee I remember the day after that episode aired I was in WHSmith buying a Buffy mag, and the saleslady started saying to me that can you believe they ended it like that, that's not an ending! :P

[identity profile] apeygirl.livejournal.com 2010-08-31 10:17 pm (UTC)(link)
God, I miss Buffy.

It bothers me even more with HBO shows because you have to wait about nine months for any kind of resolution. I sometimes think it's insecurity on the part of the showrunners, like thy think people won't come back without a cliffhanger.

[identity profile] frelling-tralk.livejournal.com 2010-09-01 03:56 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah I think so too, it's like they feel obliged to end on a cliffhanger to keep people interested. But it just seems like the easy option to me, why not end on a really kickass finale with great potential for the new season, and see if that draws people back. Not these lame "Oh will our main character survive" cliffhangers